Reversible fulcrum construction



W. C. HEDGCOCK'. REVERSIBLE rulcnum cousrnucnon.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8 I92].

Patented Nov. 7 1922.;

. Patented Alov. '7, 1922.

kiwi E7 5 WILLIAMC. nrinccocn, or onions-o. thinners, ro niunarcau rounnnrns, or onrcaeo, rtnrncrs, n oonronerron or nnw Jnasnr.

REVERSIBLE FULGR-UIVI CQNSTEUCTIQN.

Application filed August 3, 1921. 1.7;

To all whom it may concern 1 Be it knownthat 1, WILLIAM C. Haneoooii, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Reversible Fulcrum Constructions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to areversible fulcrum construction and its cooperation with a bralre beamandis a modification of that shown in my co-pending application Serial llumber 459,790, filed April 8, 1921.

One object of my invention is to provide a one piece reversible fulcrum which is simple and durable in construction, efficient in operation and adapted to meet all the requirements for successrul commercial use. Another object is to provide a simple and efficient locking connection between the compression member of a brake beam and a fulcrum.: y y

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which 1 Figure 1 is a stop plan view of a trussed type of brake beam embodying my im proved fulcrum; v

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the brake beam and fulcrum;

' Figure 3.

It will be noted that l have disclosed my invention in connection with a trussed type of brake beam including a compression member 10 and a tension member 11 between which my improved fulcrum 12 is mounted The rear end of the fulcrum 12 is provided. with a banded portion 13 which surrounds or embraces the compression member 10, the upper and lower portions of the band 13 having V-shaped walls 14 and 15 for respectively engaging the upper and lower flanges 16 and 17 of the compression member for limiting the reversible movements of the reversible fulcrum 12. In this particular instance,a rear wall 18 of the band 13 is pivotally connected to the web 19 of the compression member by a rivet 20, but any other suitable pivotal connection may be used.

It is desirable to provide means which will firmly clamp and ice: the reversible fulcrum in its (iiierent operative positions with respect to the compression'member. Tothis end the rear end of the main portion of the fulcrum 12 is provided with a projection 21 extending rearwardly toward the webor rear'wall 19 of the compression member. This projection has formed at its sides or is bounded by inclined wedge-ways 22, 23, 24- and 25-, leaving the "main projection 21 extending outwardly beyond the wedge-ways. These wedgeways are 7 arrang d in a diamond shape, the wedge-ways 22 and 23 having their highest portions at the lower ends thereof and-the wedge ways 24 and25 having their highest portions at the right hand ends thereof, as viewed in Figure (Tooperating with the wedgeways and with the compression member and with the V-shaped walls 14 and 15 of the fulcrum for securing and locking the fulcrum in its different operative positions, a wedge-key 26is provided. This wedge-key has two inclined flanges 27 and 28 which, asshown in'Figures 2 and 3 occupy the wedge-ways 22 and 23. In this position of the wedge it will be noted that one side 29 of the upper head or lip 30 engages one of the V walls 14 while the other portion of the upper V wall 14 engages the top flange 16 0f the compression member, thereby locking the fulcrum in one of its limiting or operative positions. The lip of the wedgekey 26 has two under-surfaces 31 and 32 and in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3 it will be noted that the under-surface 31 lies flatly on top and in engagement with the upper flange 16 of the compression member, thereby giving increased stability to the positioning of the key. The opposite end of the key is provided with two projections 33 and and in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3 the projection 33 engages oneof the V walls 15 for assisting in looking' the fulcrum in one of its limiting positions. This end of the key also has a tongue 35 which, when the key is driven home, is bent over to prevent accidental withdrawal of the wedge-key. To reverse the fulcrum it is merely necessary to straighten the tongue and withdraw the wedge-key 26,

which is inserted vertically between the fulcrum and the compression member, and then reverse the position of the fulcrum preparatory to reinserting the key for 106(- ing the fulcrum in its reversed position, it being understood that the wedge-shaped flanges 27 and 28 of the key will then oc cupy wedge-ways 25 and 24 respectively.

The front end of the fulcrum is provided with two fingers 36 which areshaped and spaced from each other in a manner to permit the fulcrum to be reversed without any bindin action between the fulcrum and the tension rod 11. v

By means of this arrangement the fulcrum. is locked in its different operative positions in a simple and efficient manner and the fulcrum may be reversed with ease and with a minimum expenditure of time.

It is my intention to cover all modificationsof the invention falling Within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An integrally formed reversible fulcrum having portions for embracing a brake beam compression member and permitting limited reverse movements of the fulcrum with respect thereto, and wedge means for engaging said embracing portion and the compression member for locking the fulcrum inoperative position.

2. An integrally formed reversible fulcrum having portions for embracing a brake beam compression member and permitting limited. reverse movements of the fulcrum with respect thereto, and means for engaging said embracing portion and the compression member for locking the fulcrum in operative position.

An integrally formed reversible fulcrum having portions for embracing a brake beam compression member and permitting limited reverse movements of the fulcrum with respect thereto, a vertically insertable wedge-key engaging said embracing'portion and the compression member for locking the fulcrum in operative position.

4;. An integrally formed reversible fulcrum having V-shaped wall portions for embracing a brakebeamcompression member and iimiting reversible movements of the fulcrum with respect thereto, and means cooperating with the compression member and with one of said V-shaped wall portions for locking the fulcrum inoperative position.

5. An integrally formed reversible fulcrum having \l-shaped wall portions for embracing a brake beam compression member and limiting reversible movements of the fulcrum with respect thereto, and having a projection with wedge-ways at the sides thereof, and a wedge-key having wedgeshaped flanges for occupying said wedge ways and cperatively engaging the compression member and said V-shaped walls locking the fulcrum in operative position.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 2nd day of August, 1921.

WILLIAM C HEDGCOCK. 

